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Photo Corner, 08 December 2008

Contributed by Janet Welch-Marshall, St. Joseph Missouri
This is a picture of my mother’s maternal grandparents, Charles Edward Roberts and Alice Prater, on their wedding day, 27 Nov 1886 in Rulo Nebraska.

Click on an image to enlarge it.

Contributed by Ann-che Minneskjold
This is my great-grandmother Carolina, maiden name Carlson, from Sweden. She was born 13 January 1858. The photo is taken in August 1938 and she was more than eighty years old. I hope someone can give me her last name and where she lived. She left Sweden in 1885 with a ticket to Chicago, and that is all I know.

21 thoughts on “Photo Corner, 08 December 2008”

Did you pursue the two entries in the 1900 census named Carolina, born January 1858 in Sweden? They are Carolina Erickson, wife of Andrew, living in Oakland Ward 2, Alameda, California, and Carolina Ekstroria, wife of August, living in Hopewell, Marshall, Illinois?

Ann, Carolina’s last name in Sweden would have been CARLSDOTTER, and her father’s first name would have been CARL. Carolina obviously chose to shorten her name to Carlson when she arrived or naturalized. The daughter always keeps her father’s first name and the “dotter” (for daughter) is attached.

For example,just like for Andrew Erickson. His father’s first name was Erick, and being a male and Erick’s son…Andrew’s last name became Erickson. This is the naming system for Sweden as both of my great grandparents were born there and emigrated to the US about 1870.

My great grandfather was the son of Bengt Mansson. But when my grandfather was born, his last name became Bentsson. When John arrived in the US, he changed his last name to Benson. When you check the emigration records between 1885 and after, look for Carolina Carlsdotter. No doubt she was married in 1900, so her last name reflected her husband’s. And she would not have had to naturalize, if her husband had naturalized. Women were not required to if they married before their husband was naturalized. It is all so interesting.

For Ann-che Minneskjold: I went right to the Immigration site and there was one Carolina Carlson, born “about” 1860, who arrived in 1888, at 28 yrs old, from Sweden. So much for my telling you to look under Carlsdotter, which is what I did. There were plenty of other women under that last name but only one Carolina and her last name was as you mentioned. It even shows the name of her ship. Sure hope this helps you a little bit. Linda

Another candidate in the 1900 Census is Carolin Anderson married to John Anderson who was born January 1858 and year of immigration is 1885. She is in Chicago Ward 32, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T623 286; Page: 14B along with husband John and children Charles (age 10), Hilda (age 8) and Elma (age 5), John (age 3) and Arthur (age 10/12). I tracked this family through the 1910, 1920 and 1930 in Chicago. In other records, her name is listed as Caroline. Since there are so many John Andersons and Caroline Andersons in the Chicago area, no luck in checking death records.

A Carolina Carlson (not Carlsdotter even though that would be her name in Sweden as Linda said) arrived in New York on April 30, 1885 on the Ship Wyoming; she is listed as a spinster at the ripe old age of 27. So this might be her. The Passenger List said this Carolina was from MalmÃ¶, Sweden. I tried to find her leaving from a MalmÃ¶ parish in March or April but had no luck. It is possible she sailed from MalmÃ¶, so they said she was from there; she could have been from a village close to MalmÃ¶, or I just didn’t find her. With a birthdate and your information about the year and her destination, I suggest you join the Sweden List at Rootsweb and post a request for help finding her leaving Sweden. Possibly they can help trace her family backwards. Miracles happen on that List every day. Good luck.

They left Sweden 16 Jun 1881 aboard a White Star line ship. Their first stop was in Chicago and finally settled in Iowa. I don’t have any more information on her parents or Swan’s. Their 5 children came with them.

This is for a Carolina Anderson, born in Sweden in 1858. She immigrated to the US in 1885 and married John Anderson in 1888. They settled in Chicago. She says she had borne 7 children of whom 5 were living. In 1930 she was living in Chicago with her brother-in-law, Martin Anderson.

I think Ann-che knows about where Karolina Karlsdotter was born and when, it seems the problem is what happened after she arrived in the US. A name of Ann-ches grandmother/father would be helpful in this case I’d say.

Lola: Your gt, gt, grandmother Sissa Carlsdotter was born December 7th 1843 in GlimÃ¥kra parish, Kristianstads county, SkÃ¥ne, Sweden. Her husband Sven Svensson was born 1828, March 14th in Visseltofta, Kristianstads county, SkÃ¥ne, Sweden.

Big thanks and hugs to everyone who engaged in my search for Carolina.

To give my grandmothers name is no idea as she and her sister were left behind in Sweden, 3 and 1 years old.
My grandmother must have had some contact with her mother as one of my cousins found this photo of her.

IÂ´ve searched census fÃ¶r Carolina, born 1858 immigrating 1885 – IÂ´ve found one living wiht her brother-in-law Martin. So, now IÂ´m going to look fÃ¶r John and Carolina and all their children. Hopefully I can hunt down a living relative and if he/she is interested there are lots of relatives in Sweden.

Bad joss (luck)- John and Carolinas daughter Hilda married a McKirryher. IÂ´ve fund her death certificate wich gives her mothers maiden name as Widen.
Alas IÂ´m back to square one again.
Now IÂ´ll try the Ekstoria, the Ericksons IÂ´ve already ruled out.
By the way, I found John and Caroline in 1930, still in Chicago with two of their children at home. That gives a new opportunity, Caroline Anderson, living with her brother-in law, Martin – am I looking for at needlein a haystack?
Ann-Che

Hi! If Carolina Carlson left two daughters in Sweden when she came to America in 1885 (see comment 16), then she would have been married in Sweden, I presume. Then she may have emigrated under her married name? There is a Carolina Carlson, born abt 1858, who arrived in NY 30 April 1885 from Liverpool alone (spinster) on the SS Wyoming. Anyway, I found a Carolina Erickson in the 1900 and 1910 censuses, on Union Street, Oakland, Alameda Co, CA. She was born in January 1858 and imigrated in 1885, according to the 1900 census. Her husband in 1900 was Andrew Erickson (born September 1855 in Sweden, emigrated 1886, died apparently before the 1910 census), laborer. Their oldest child was born in 1885, so they could have been married in Sweden. There were five sons and one daughter in 1900, but two of the children (Louis?, Eric?)died before 1910. Three sons registered for the WWI draft (William. Albert, Robert). I hope this helps!

Thanks again for all help!
I’m still looking for my great grandmother… as someone said, “she’s a needle in a haystack”. I’ve looked at John and Carolina, then brother–in-law Martin and Caroilna… I honestly think it’s her… how can I follow her children och find her death record?
All the best!
Ann-Che
PS my grandmother is Carolinas look-alike and the chin has been an inheritance to all my grandmotehrs children and to some of their children